A father has been found dead at a popular beach after he told his mate to ‘Hold my beer’ before jumping over the edge of a shark net and being swept out to sea.
Jake Brown, 29, was swimming in an enclosed area at Paradise Point Parklands, on the Gold Coast, when he became stuck in the nets around 4pm on Sunday.
Bystanders desperately rushed to his aid, but were unable to locate him after he then was swept away by the current.
His body was recovered four hours later after a massive search operation involving water police, Polair, and the dive squad.
A witness said he saw Mr Brown and his male friend sitting on the net moments before the tragedy unfolded.
The man said Mr Brown told his friend ‘hold my beer’ before he jumped over the edge of the net.
‘I said ‘stop’, you could see what was going to happen,’ the witness told the Courier Mail.
‘He tried to jump off but the current took him, he came up once and I swam to him but then he went under the net.
‘It was so f***ing obvious what was going to happen, it’s why I yelled, “Don’t!” It’s so sad.’
Mr Brown’s heartbroken partner Kama Robinson has hit back at trolls online after social media users suggested Mr Brown must have been ‘another refugee’ or ‘not known how to swim’.
‘You’re a maggot,’ Ms Robinson responded to one troll.
‘This is my partner. He was not just a man he was a very very loved friend, partner, father, brother, son, grandson, [and] uncle.’
‘He was a beautiful man who’s smile lit up every room he walked in [and] unfortunately we lost a beautiful human.’
In another tribute, friend Nissa Janbroers wrote: ‘RIP brother, we love you so much.’
The tragedy took place as the beach was packed with families enjoying the warm weather as the temperature soared to 32 degrees.
Hundreds of beachgoers gathered to watch as the frantic search got underway, with firefighters with snorkels entering the water and helicopters circling overhead.
A council spokeswoman said an investigation was underway into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
‘The City is aware of the incident that occurred this afternoon within the swimming enclosure at Paradise Point Parklands,” she said in a statement.
‘We are actively co-operating with authorities to understand the cause of the incident.
‘The city will provide any assistance it can to emergency services to assist in this matter.’